Fluid operated annunciator



United States Patent Robert B Hartman Bridgeport, Connecticut 741,995

July 2, 1968 Nov. 24, 1970 Remington Arms Company, Inc. Bridgeport, Connecticut a corporation of Delaware Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee FLUID OPERATED ANNUNCIATOR 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 116/65,

- 73/4l'9; 137/201 Int. Cl G08b 1/04 Field of Search 116/34,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,526,568 l0/l950 Leonard ll6/70UX 3,182,630 5/1965 Claeys 116/70 3,229,404 1/1966 Abrahamsen, et al l l6/70UX 3,300,769 l/l967 Batur ll6/70X 3,325,010 6/1967 Sackett 1l6/70X 3,429,29l 2/1969 Hoffman 116/70 Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi Attorney-D. Verner Smythe ABSTRACT: A device for displaying a plurality of signals wherein at least two slidable disclike or signal members are movable in a passage means by fluid pressure, a central portion of the passage means having a window with an indicating surface in line therewith. The signal discs are movable in the passage means so that the disclike members selectively can be displayed in the window or all of the disclike members can be moved adjacent to their respective guide passage means so as to leave the area under the window displayed therein.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 INVENTOR G noasm amanmnu ATTOR 1 FLUID OPERATED ANNUNCIATOR This invention related to a signal indicator device and particularly to a fluidic operated arrangement wherein various desired signals can be displayed in a viewing'window.

In the priorart, various mechanical and electrical means have been used to operate indicators. It has been found desirav ble to provide a simple indicator arrangement for indicating a plurality of conditions. 1

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple fluidic indicator.

Another ofth e objects of the invention is to provide a fluidic indicator or annunciator that will selectively show a number of conditions.

In one aspect of the invention, a support is provided with guide passagcmeans in which in one form, there are two slidable disclike signal members or flags. The disclike members may display colors, patterns, or may have selected indicia thereon. The guide passage has a central window under which there may be a contrasting color. pattern, or indicia on the guide passage, which will give an indication when not covered by the disclike signal members. The guide passage can have fluid pressure connections at each end so that when pressure is applied to either connection, such will move a disclike signal flag toward the window due to a pressure differential. If the other signal member is under the window, the moving disclike signal will cause the other signal member to move toward its end of the passage, thereby displaying itself in the window. A connection also may be provided at either end portion of the central zone so that fluid can be selectively applied thereto to move a disclike signal from the center zone to its end of the guide passage and uncover the central stationary indicia which is under the window. If desirable, a central vent can be used so as to provide a pressure differential regardless of the control circuit arrangement or configuration, and thus reduce compression forces that might affect movement. Momentum of the flag may assist it to complete movement thereof-As a further alternative, there may be vents at either end of the central chamber. i

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from. the following-description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken alongtheline 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the signal members at each end of the passage;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except that the signal members are shown in different operated locations; and

position and the indicating surface 23 is visible through window 12. If it is desired to have the signalindicia of signal 16 appear at the window, a fluid pressure pulse can be applied to pipe 18 which will move the signal 16 to the right (FIG. 3,). If the pressure IS continuous, flow may then exhaust through be applied to pipe l7 which will move the signals to the position of FIG. 4. As mentioned, the signals may be contrastingly colored or they may have numbers, letters or other indicia The vents in any alternative must be appropriately di|nen-' sioned so as to provide some restriction to the signal flow in order to give the pressure required in the chamber to move the flags.

The flags or indicators l5, l6 and body I0 may be translucent and colored for back lighting if desired.

In some applications, it may be desirable for the multistable indicator of this'invention to utilize the logic aspect inherent in its design. For example, in processing industries. one indicia for the normal condition, a second indicia when trouble occars, and a third indicia when the operator acknowledges the presence of the trouble may be needed. The present device may be ideal for such an installation.

Assuming that the normal condition exposes indicia number 12 when trouble occurs,-pressure would be applied at port 18 moving indicia 16 under the window. Acknowledgment by the operator by pressurizing port 17 would then move indicia l5 under the window. On a return to normal operation, pressure FIG. 4 shows an alternate arrangement having signal inem bers located in a different position than FIG. 3 and shows an is suitably fastened to body 13 which has guide passage means 14 (FIG. 2) therein. The various parts may be made ofa suitable plastic or other material and can be joined in fluid tight relation in any suitable manner. Disclike flags or indicators 15, 16 can'be so dimensioned as to be slidable or rollable in the guide passage 14. The flags or indicators can be made of different colors and so as to contrast with each other and with the surface under the window I2 on the guide passage wall thereunder. Fluid pressure pipe 17, l8 are connected adjacent their respective ends of guide passage 14. Vent pipe 19 can be centrally located. Fluid pressure connections 20, 21 are located on either side of the central zone 22 but are spaced relative thereto and the ends of the guide passage so that the disclike indicators when in an end position will be generally between the connections 20, 21 and the respective ends of the guide passages.

Referring now to FIG. 2, indicators l5, 16 are in their end applied at port 21 would again expose indicia 12.

Should the trouble correct itself before the operator would have an opportunity to acknowledge by pressurizing port 17, pressure applied to port 20 would restore 16 to its rest condition and expose normal indicia l2 through the window.

It should be apparent that various changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit of the of said guide passage means, and means to apply fluid pressure to said central zone so that said slidable indicator means can be moved back and forth in said guide passage means to display the desired signal indicator means at said window means and said indicatormeans can be moved toward the respective ends of said guide passage means to leave a stationary indication on said support means displayed in said window means.

2. A signal indicator as in claim I wherein the indicator means are opposed to each other so that when one of said indicator means is in said central zone and the other indicator has pressure applied thereto, the other indicator means will move the first mentioned indicator means out of said central zone.

3. A signalindicator as in claim 2 wherein there is a vent means connected to said central zone.

4. A signal indicator as in claim 3 wherein there is only one central vent means.

5. A signal indicator as in claim 3 wherein there are vent means at each end of said central zone. 

